Ibrahim Khalil

The Sardauna College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kano, on Saturday held its maiden convocation ceremony, graduating 78 students, with women accounting for about 80 per cent of the graduating class, a development stakeholders described as a significant milestone for healthcare delivery in northern Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, said the high number of female graduates would help address cultural concerns in the region, where many families are still uncomfortable with their wives, daughters and mothers being attended to by male medical personnel.

However, he noted that the northern region remains far behind in closing the gap in the number of female health practitioners, stressing the need for sustained investment in girls’ education and training in the health sector.

Alhaji Dalhatu also raised concern over the wider education crisis in the North, where he said an estimated 15 million children are currently out of school. He warned that failure to urgently tackle the problem could result in a generation that is largely unemployable, with serious consequences for regional and national development.

Also speaking, a renowned community leader and former public official, Dr. Goni Faruk Umar, has charged graduates of the Sardauna College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kano, to see their qualification not as a gateway to comfort but as a call to service and responsibility.

Dr. Umar who served as the Special Guest at the convocation ceremony described the institution as one established by vision and sustained by purpose, with a clear mandate to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery in Kano State, Nigeria and beyond.

According to him, nations do not rise by chance but on the shoulders of prepared and committed citizens, noting that the College was presenting to society a new generation of trained Community Health Extension Workers, Medical Laboratory Technologists and Public Health professionals equipped not only with certificates but with the capacity to save lives.

Addressing the graduands, Dr. Umar said they were entering a complex world challenged by disease, misinformation, poverty and fragile health systems, stressing that their knowledge, skills and compassion were now more critical than ever.

“Healthcare is not only about science; it is about humanity. It is not only about diagnosis; it is about dignity. It is not only about treatment; it is about trust,” he said.

He urged the graduates to allow empathy to guide their expertise and ethics to shape their ambition, reminding them that every patient represents a family, a future and a source of hope.

Dr. Umar commended the Provost, Academic Board, management and staff of the College for their commitment to excellence, noting that beyond teaching courses, they had contributed to character building, confidence and purpose, thereby strengthening the health security of the state and the nation.

He also acknowledged the sacrifices of parents and guardians, describing the convocation as a moment when years of prayers, support and perseverance had yielded visible results.

The guest speaker called on leaders and stakeholders to continue investing in health and educational institutions, stressing that a healthy nation is a productive nation and that a skilled health workforce remains the first line of defence for any society.

He further urged the graduates to leave the institution with values of service, professionalism and leadership, encouraging them to be problem-solvers, innovators, ethical and compassionate ambassadors of the College.

Dr. Umar expressed gratitude to the Governing Council and management of the College for naming one of its blocks after him, describing the honour as a reaffirmation of collective commitment to strengthening health education and human capacity development.

He dedicated the gesture to the ideals of service, integrity and impact, and pledged his continued support for the growth and excellence of the institution.

In her address, the Provost of the College, Hajiya Naja’atu Abdullahi, congratulated the graduating students and urged them to uphold integrity, empathy and a commitment to lifelong learning in their professional careers.

She highlighted the institution’s progress in expanding academic programmes, improving teaching and learning facilities, and strengthening clinical and industrial training partnerships to enhance the quality of its graduates.

The Provost also described the commissioning of the Dr. Goni Umar Faruk Administrative Building as a symbol of the college’s vision and commitment to sustainable development in healthcare education.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, said the state is facing enormous health challenges as its population continues to grow rapidly.

He projected that Kano State could record between 600,000 and 700,000 births in 2026 alone, while hospitals are currently grappling with a shortage of about 4,000 professional health workers.

Dr. Nagoda urged training institutions to place greater emphasis on practical and community-based training to ensure graduates are well prepared for service delivery. He further disclosed that plans were underway to absorb new graduates and deploy them to underserved areas, including Doguwa, Rogo and Sumaila Local Government Areas.

The maiden convocation was described by participants as a landmark achievement for the institution and a boost to efforts aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in Kano State and the wider northern region.